Construction of wall, ceiling and like surfaces



Feb. 12, 1963 M. FORKIN CONSTRUCTION OF WALL, CEILING AND LIKE SURFACES2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1958 Feb. 12, 1963 M, Fo Kl 3,077,057

CONSTRUCTION OF WALL, CEILING AND LIKE SURFACES Filed April 21, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofiice 3,677,957 Patented Feb. 12,1953 3,6773 CGNSTRUQTIQN @F WALL, CEllLliNG AND lillidE SURFAGES MatthewForkin, 133 Qapei St., Dublin, Ireland Filed Apr. 2i, 195$, er. No.729,750 Clair-as priority, application lreiund May 4, 1957 1 Claim. (Ci.50-313) This invention relates to a structure of a wall, ceiling andlike surfaces of the so-called suspended type, wherein plaster boards orsimilar preformed surface elements are secured to battens suspended orsupported in spaced relation to a wall, roof or other supportingstructure which said surface is intended to cover and conceal. Theinvention is also applicable to the construction of partition walls.

More particularly the invention concerns constructions of the kindreferred to wherein the battens consist of flat metal bars presentededge-wise to the surface elements, and the latter are secured thereto bythe aid of U-shaped saddle pieces which sit upon the battens and engagethe marginal portions of the surface elements with their outwardlyflanged extremities. After erection the surface elements are usuallyplastered over to provide a smooth, unbroken surface.

The practical success of such a method of construction depends uponseveral factors. The construction must be simple and rapid to carry out.This is only possible if the surface elements can be mounted and held inproper position without the least difficulty or the complication offitting a number of parts together. But at the same time a simple methodof adjustment is necessary to enable the supportin framework of battensto suit exactly the width of the surface elements available. Theconstruction when complete must be relatively firm, but must be relievedof stresses such as would arise in a rigid structure due to temperaturevariations, settlements and so forth, and which would lead to crackingof the plastered surface.

These desiderata are attained, according to the invention, by the use ofsaddle pieces each consisting of a flat metal strip, the middle portionof which is bent to conform to the cross-sectional form of the metalbatten on which it is to sit, the extremities are bent outwards toprovide flanges while the sides are bent apart locally to form outwardlyprojecting abutments spaced from the flanges to permit the marginalportions of the surface elements to fit into the recesses formed betweensaid flanged extremities and said abu-tments and are thereby firmly heldat a predetermined distance from the battens. in some cases, however, itmay be desirable to secure the surface element more firmly to the saddlepieces, and this may be effected, according to the invention, byinserting a bifurcated peg or wedge between the abutments on the saddlepiece and the adjacent parts of the surface elements. Moreover such pegsmay be so shaped as to bite into the surface elements and tend to forcethem more closely together.

In spite of their firm engagement with the marginal portions of thesurface elements, due to their frictional engagement with the battensthe saddle pieces are capable of longitudinal adjustment upon thebattens. The latter are also connected to the bearers in a non-rigidmanner, namely by the provision of W-shaped connecting mem bers, theouter limbs of which are slotted to receive the ends of the battens,while the inner limbs engage the bearer between them. The connectingmembers may thus be adjusted longitudinally of the bearers and may thenbe keyed in position by a simple, novel form of key.

A constructional form of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of the saddle piece according to theinvention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and plan views showing themethod of connecting battens to a transverse bearer, as for example,when constructing a ceiling,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the construction of a partitionwall employing horizontal battens connected to vertical bearers,

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a sheet metal blank for the keys employedin FIG. 2,

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively an end sectional elev-ation, a sideelevation and a plan view showing the method of attaching surfaceelements to a batten according to the invention,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively a plan and end elevations of a peg orwedge employed in FIGS. 6 to 8, and

FIG. 11 is a prospective view of the construction shown in FiGS. 6 to 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, the saddle piece 7 according to the inventionconsists of a strip of sheet metal which is bent like a hair-pin so thatits middle portion will fit upon the batten 1 consisting of a flat metalbar forming the supporting frame on which the surface elements 8 are tobe mounted. It will be understood that the supporting frame is made upof fiat metal strips erected in parallel spaced relation, with battensalso formed of flat metal strips mounted between the bearers in themanner of spacing members. The saddle pieces are shaped to conform tothe profile of the battens on which they are to sit and the extremitiesof the saddle pieces are bent outwardly to provide flanges it}, whilethe intermediate portions 45 are bent apart to form abutments 65.

surface elements are inserted when constructing a wall, ceiling or thelike. The saddle pieces 7 are of resilient material, and when theextremities are pressed together by applying the surface elements 8, thesides of the saddle pieces exert a frictional grip upon the flat sidesof the battens 1. Thus as will be apparent from FIG. 4, which shows apartition wall in course of construction, the sur face elements 8 arefirmly held at a definite distance from the batten 1.

In order to secure the batten 1 to a bearer 47 perpen dicular thereto, aW-shaped connecting member 49 is provided. The member 49 sits upon thebearer 47 and its outer limbs are slotted to receive the ends of thebattens 1. After insertion in the slots the ends of the battens fl maybe prevented from withdrawal by applying a. split pin 56 or in any othersimple manner, for example by deforming the end of the batten.

Thus the battens 1 are capable of longitudinal displacement upon thebearers 47 during construction, and this is extremely important, as itenables the saddle pieces 7 to engage the surface members 8 accuratelyand without distortion, notwithstanding possible variations in thewidths of the surface elements available for use. After being correctlypositioned the connecting members may be secured by keys 51. The lattermay be stamped from sheet metal to the form shown in FIG. 5, bent alongthe dotted lines and applied to the bearers as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and4, the end portion 53 being clinched round the bearer. The wedge-shapedportions 52 engage the web portions of the connecting members 49 andsecurely hold same when lightly tapped into position. It will beunderstood that, when building a partition as shown in FIG. 4, as eachcourse of surface elements is placed in position, commencing from thebottom, the nexg higher course is added in a similar manner.

The rigidity of the construction may be further enhanced, but withoutdestroying the ability of the supporting structure to expand andcontract without crack- A recess 46 is thus formed into which themarginal portions of the ing the plastered surface of the wall orceiling, by providing means'for' tightening the engagement of the saddlepieces with the surface elements. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 such meansconsists of a bifurcated peg or wedge 64 formed from sheet metal or thelike. The thin edge of the wedge 64 may be inserted beneath the abutment65 formed by the outwardly kinked portions of the stem 4'5 of thesaddlemember 7, at the same time engaging and tending to press together theinwardly bent end portions 46 of the saddle member. By lightly tappingthe wedge pieces 64 into firmer engagement, not only are the endportions 46 pressed more firmly together, but the surface members 8 areforced downwards relatively to the saddle members 7, while the thinedges 66 of the wedges 64, which are slightly inwardly inclined asindicated in FIGS. 8 and 9, bite into the surface of the members 8 asthe wedges are driven into position. The wedges 64 thus also tend todraw the members 8 together and hold them firmly against separation.Advantageously the extremities 67 (FIG. 6 of the saddle members 7 may beturned up so that their sharp edges also bite into the members 8 andthus assist in locking same firmly in position.

When it is. desired to employ surface elements of substantial thickness(e.g. for additional insulation qualities), as shown for example inFIGS. 6 7, 8 and 11, the marginal portions of said elements may beformed with a rebateor recess 60, permitting same to fit between theabutments 65 and the flanges 10 of the saddle pieces.

After the surface. elements 8 have been erected the recesses 60 may befilled with suitable heat and/or fireresisting material, for examplevermiculite plaster. The latter niaycomprise pre-formedplugs or strips,such as the strip 63.shown in FIG. 11, shaped to fit into the recess 60into which it may be cemented. The strip 63 may advantageously be ofequal thickness to the surface elements 8 so that the insulationproperty of the wall or ceiling is uniform throughout and the efiiciencyof the surface as a heat-barrier is not impaired by reason of thesaddlepieces.

It will be understood that in carrying out the invention all metal partsare preferably protected from rust. The battens and bearers arepreferably galvanised, while the saddle pieces and other parts offlexible material are plated or otherwise provided with a non-flakingprotective. coating for example, by cadmium plating. Welding of theparts together, which it is desirable to avoid as far aspossible may besubstantially eliminated by the use of saddle pieces and connectingelements such as shown.

By means of the invention a very strong construction of light weightwhich can be easily and quickly built is provided for covering walls,ceilings, partitions and roofs, the construction also having excellentheat insulating and fireproof properties. Moreover, expansion andcontraction in accordance with moderate changes of temperature may takeplace without risk of cracking of the plaster surface.

I claim:

In a building construction, a plurality of rectangular surface elementsmounted in edge-to-edge planar relation upon elongated, flat metalbattens, an edge of each said flat metal batten being disposed towardcorresponding first faces of said surface elements, U-shaped saddlepieces mounted on the batten with the bight portions of the saddle pieceengaging the opposite edges of the battens, each saddle piece havingoppositely projecting outwardly disposed flanges at the extremityopposite said bight portion, said flanges engaging second faces of saidsurface elements on the side remote from the battens, each saddle piecefurther including oppositely projecting abut-ments intermediate thesurface elements and said battens, and a bifurcated wedge engaging eachsaddle piece between the abutments and the first faces of said surfaceelements pressing said surface elements against said oppositely directedflanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS733,671 Murray July 14, 1903 1,073,134 Jester Sept. 16, 1913 1,579,377Mak-owski Apr. 6, 1926 1,669,730 Walper May 15, 1928 1,815,075 SersenJuly 21, 1931 1,864,965 Venzie June 28, 1932 1,988,147 Voigt Jan. 15,1935 2,075,955 Parsons Apr. 6, 1937 2,686,288 Van Uum July 6, 19372,197,749 Lagaard Apr. 16, 1940 2,822,584- Urbain Feb. 11, 19582,904,870 Hillberg Sept. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 622,156 Great BritainApr. 27, 1949

